The DA’s who did not prosecute before now...they should have a serious problem, too. The janitors who witnessed and did not called the police. And many other abettors in the suffering and humilation of boys.

There was a grand jury investigation, and the report was released. Just based on the testimony of Paterno (he admits he knew, and didn't call the police, he only reported it to the athletic director), it is more than enough to justify his firing, the death penalty for their football program, and decimation of his reputation.

Obviously possible criminal charges go through the typical slow process, but there is plenty to angry about now.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Penn State is a cult and the football program is their shrine. I will bet a dollar that there are suicides over the loss of JoePa and that the victims of this predator will get death threats for ruining a great season of football and JoePa’s career. Bank on it.

28
posted on 11/09/2011 11:41:35 PM PST
by Lazlo in PA
(Now living in a newly minted Red State.)

I’m old fashioned enough to believe the perp should be found guilty before you start taking action against the perp’s alleged enablers. This case hasn’t even come to trial. Why the rush to oust Paterno? You DO realize booting Joe and the Prez plays right into Sandusky’s defense by prejudging his guilt? Even a rookie defense attorney could look at this action as prejudicial to his client. What were these hysterical board members thinking?

Just based on the testimony of Paterno (he admits he knew, and didn't call the police, he only reported it to the athletic director), it is more than enough to justify his firing,,,

At many colleges and universities report to their own chain of command.

Our daughter worked at a women's dorm at night. Her instructions were "to report to campus security, do not call the police". This included any and all assaults. She severed ties to her alma mater, no mail forwarded plus she does want them to have her current address or phone numbers.

Academia has their own chain of command. Not making excuses for Joe, but if it happens on campus it stays on campus.

I can't disagree more with every word you wrote. Life isn't a court of law and you shouldn't confuse morality with legality. You have all the participants already admitting to salient points (a rape was witnessed, the police weren't called). It is totally irrelevant whether the guy ever gets convicted when considering how PSU should treat Paterno. They had a moral obligation to fire him immediately. Paterno was't denying he knew, if he was PSU could have been more deliberate. A trial could take years, you hink no actions should be taken until then??

Also, totally weird to assert that these firings help the defense. I don't think the DA is going mind..

Here are some thoughts on the situation and the general feeling around town:

1) Everyone is disgusted with what happened. Sandusky is obviously public enemy number 1. Spanier was never extremely popular, and student and public opinion is strongly against him. People are also against Curley and Shultz. Finally the board is unpopular for firing JoePa.

2) This is one of the most unbelievable weeks of my 31 year-old life. Just unfathomable. I’m in disbelief, but I actually am able to comprehend what is happening at the same time. Indescribable.

3) The students are protesting in support of Paterno. They feel that he is innocent and is the victim of a media lynch mob. Hence chants of “f*** the media” and the flipped tv van.

4) The main activity of the mob was to chant things in support of Joe and just act like idiotic college kids. The violence was mainly focused on tipping light poles, and then of course the widely reported tipped tv van.

5) There were a lot of riot police there. I wonder whether it was a good idea for them to pace back and forth the way they did. That seemed to create the most dangerous situations with people running away creating stampedes. At one point, with the police lined up at the top of a gradually sloping alley, it looked just like what I have seen of the Kent State riots. Freaky. Of course, these riots are nowhere near as out of control as the Kent State riots were.

6) The average student seemed to be there for the sake of acting idiotic and witnessing history. Most people I talked to there felt bad about possible damages. However, I assume that’s what happens in many riots. The few act like idiots while the others stand back and watch.

7) I wonder how the rest of the week will play out? Will things escalate or was this a one-time riot. I have to think something will happen Saturday and probably also Friday. Honestly, things will probably escalate all week, since tomorrow is already Thursday. The board will have to keep in mind the possibility of canceling this game if things escalate too far. I still can’t believe how big of a deal this has become.

I agree - I don't know if the PSU Board of Trustees gets it yet, naming some interim head coach as if the rest of the season is going to be business as usual. Do they have any idea what the rest of the nation is thinking and saying about Penn State's program right now, and do they really want to send their team out to play on the road after this weekend? Is Mike McQueary, the 28 year old former player who witnessed a child being raped and ran away instead of stopping it, still going to be on the sidelines as a coach?

I know the football program has made Penn State, but IMHO it's time to give it the SMU treatment and rebuild clean from the ashes after a couple of years hiatus. Start by firing McQueary.

This is really a lot like when the NFL suspended Michael Vick. Had to be done, first, because it was morally right, but also because the reaction to him was so fierce, there was no way the season could go on as usual.

One of the lessons here SHOULD be “IT’S ONLY A GAME.”

I know that may be hard for the Penn State cult to take in, but it should be one of the greatest life’s lessons they’ll ever have.

I don’t know why these people protected Sandusky, but you can bet at least part of it was to protect the football program, the university because it had the football program, and “the game.”

NONE of that has any worth whatsoever compared to protecting a human being.

46
posted on 11/10/2011 12:34:19 AM PST
by fightinJAG
(NO REPRESENTATION WITHOUT TAXATION! Everyone should pay taxes, everyone should pay the same rate.)

Fine. But police reports, campus or otherwise, mean nothing until they are adjudicated in a court of law with jury and or judge. You do realize you or I could call the cops and swear out a complaint on anyone we want and they would duly note it and move on to their next call. There is absolutely no court in any of this, and yet people have been punished. This is hysteria, not how the system is supposed to work.

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